System and Method for Basic Service Set Association

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a station (STA) from an access point (AP), a frame including a device type indicator and comparing the device type indicator with a device type accepted by a basic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison. The method also includes determining whether to associate the STA with the AP in accordance with the comparison, associating the STA with the AP upon determining to associate the STA with the AP, and not associating the STA with the AP upon determining not to associate the STA with the AP.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/866,309, filed on Apr. 19, 2013, entitled “System and Method forBasic Service Set Association,” which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/636,147 filed on Apr. 20, 2012, andentitled “System and Method for BSS Separation,” which applications areincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for wirelesscommunications, and, in particular, to a system and method for basicservice set (BSS) association.

BACKGROUND

WiFi, also referred to as wireless local area network (WLAN), uses IEEE802.11 standard technologies as an air interface, including physical(PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers. In an IEEE 802.11 WLAN, thecommunication channel is shared by multiple stations, which may becoordinated by a distributed channel access function, i.e., adistributed coordination function (DCF), based on the carrier sensemultiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanism.

The DCF uses both physical and virtual carrier sense functions todetermine the state of the medium. The physical carrier sense functionresides in the PHY layer and uses energy detection and preambledetection to determine whether the medium is busy. The virtual carriersense function resides in the MAC layer and uses reservation informationcarried in the duration field of the MAC header, which indicates theimpending use of the wireless channel. The virtual carrier sensemechanism is called the network allocation vector (NAV). The wirelesschannel is determined to be idle only when both the physical and virtualcarrier sense mechanisms indicate it to be so.

A station (STA) with a data frame for transmission may perform a clearchannel assessment (CCA) by sensing the wireless channel for a fixedduration, i.e., the DCF inter-frame space (DIFS). If the wirelesschannel is busy, the station waits until the channel becomes idle for aDIFS, and then waits for a further random backoff period. The backofftimer decreases by one for every idle slot and freezes when the channelis sensed busy. When the backoff timer reaches zero, the station startsdata transmission. In WiFi networks, the downlink traffic from an accesspoint to a station is announced via a traffic indicator map (TIM).

SUMMARY

An embodiment method includes receiving, by a station (STA) from anaccess point (AP), a frame including a device type indicator andcomparing the device type indicator with a device type accepted by abasic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison. The methodalso includes determining whether to associate the STA with the AP inaccordance with the comparison, associating the STA with the AP upondetermining to associate the STA with the AP, and not associating theSTA with the AP upon determining not to associate the STA with the AP.

An embodiment method includes receiving, by an access point (AP) from afirst station (STA), a first frame including a first device typeindicator and comparing the first device type indicator with a devicetype accepted by a basic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a firstcomparison. The method also includes determining whether to associatethe first STA with the AP in accordance with the first comparison,associating the first STA with the AP upon determining to associate thefirst STA with the AP, and not associating the first STA with the APupon determining not to associate the first STA with the AP.

An embodiment station (STA) includes a processor and a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium storing programming for execution bythe processor. The programming including instructions to receive, froman access point (AP), a frame including a device type indicator andcompare the device type indicator with a device type accepted by a basicservice set (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison. The programmingalso includes instructions to determine whether to associate the STAwith the AP in accordance with the comparison, associate the STA withthe AP upon determining to associate the STA with the AP, and notassociate the STA with the AP upon determining not to associate the STAwith the AP.

An embodiment access point (AP) includes a processor and anon-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming forexecution by the processor. The programming including instructions toreceive, from a station (STA), a frame including a device type indicatorand compare the device type indicator with a device type accepted by abasic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison. Theprogramming also includes instructions to determine whether to associatethe STA with the AP in accordance with the comparison, associate the STAwith the AP upon determining to associate the STA with the AP, and notassociate the STA with the AP upon determining not to associate the STAwith the AP.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features of an embodimentof the present invention in order that the detailed description of theinvention that follows may be better understood. Additional features andadvantages of embodiments of the invention will be describedhereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basisfor modifying or designing other structures or processes for carryingout the same purposes of the present invention. It should also berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructionsdo not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment system for basic service set (BSS)association;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment message diagram for BSS association;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment message diagram for BSSassociation;

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment method for BSS association;

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment method for BSS association;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment method for BSS disassociation;

FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment method for BSS disassociation; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a general-purposecomputer system.

Corresponding numerals and symbols in the different figures generallyrefer to corresponding parts unless otherwise indicated. The figures aredrawn to clearly illustrate the relevant aspects of the embodiments andare not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

It should be understood at the outset that although an illustrativeimplementation of one or more embodiments are provided below, thedisclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques, whether currently known or in existence. The disclosureshould in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations,drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplarydesigns and implementations illustrated and described herein, but may bemodified within the scope of the appended claims along with their fullscope of equivalents.

IEE 802.11 launched a task group, TGah, for long range and low powersensor networks. TGah generally follows basic protocols of 802.11 andsupports 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz channels. TGah createsspecifications for under 1 GHz WiFi. This new WiFi design has a mainapplication of sensor networks and a secondary use for trafficoffloading from cellular networks. An additional application is for thebackhaul, for example communication between access points. In anexample, over 6000 devices are supported. An example WiFi networkoperates at narrow bandwidths of 1 MHz and 2 MHz by downclocking a 20MHz WiFi network channel clock, leading to an increase in symbolduration from 4 μs to 40 μs.

Stations communicating in a WiFi network may be sensor devices, such assmart meters, temperature sensors, and pressure sensors, or offloadingdevices, such as smart phones, tablets, laptops, or other devices.Sensors may determine and upload data, while offloading devices mayreceive streamed audio or video, e-mail, internet, transmit and receivevoice, download or play games, use services, or download large amountsof data. Sensor traffic tends to have a low data rate, a low duty cycle,and is utility operator managed. For example, sensors may upload trafficat a low duty cycle and occasionally download traffic, such as softwareuploads or data requests. However, offloading devices generally have ahigh and bursty data rate, and are cellular operator managed. Forexample, offloading devices may have mainly downlink traffic mixed withsome uplink traffic, and tend to have non-uniform short durationactivity. Also, sensors may be powered by batteries, and thereforeadditional overhead leads to a shorter battery life, and increased costsof battery replacement.

In a BSS with both sensors and offloading devices, most of the channelmay be used by the aggressive offloading devices, while the lessaggressive sensors experience delays. Also, the transmission power foroffloading devices and sensor devices may be different, leading to ahidden node problem where some devices are unaware of other devices inthe BSS. For example, sensors may use less power than offloadingdevices. Additionally, offloading traffic may require a high bandwidthand a high throughput, while sensor traffic operates at a lowerbandwidth and a lower throughput. Operating at different bandwidths on aper packet basis generally requires additional signaling. There are alsodifferent physical layer demands for sensors and offloading devices. ABSS that supports only one type of traffic or device may provide specialor targeted functions for the particular traffic or device type. BSSparameters, such as bandwidth, power, or beacon frequency may beadjusted and optimized based on the type of traffic carried by the BSS.

Different traffic types for sensors and offloading devices are suitedfor different BSS optimization, signaling, and services. For example,offloading could require the implementation of HS2.0 features. Also,offloading generally entails implementation of lawful intercept andemergency calls. Some network features may be used for a BSS servingoffloading devices, but are not useful for a BSS serving sensors, andmay create additional overhead. On the other hand, sensor networks mayrequire additional features, such as last gasp signaling and a highvolume association after power loss. Additionally, sensors may operateat lower bandwidths of 1 MHz or 2 MHz, while offloading devices operateat higher bandwidths. A BSS serving large areas of a smart grid or smartmeter devices may reject offloading devices that may affect thesensor/smart grid reporting in the network. For example, delay inreporting, which may cause bad results, may be avoided with a sensoronly BSS. Also, overhead may be saved. For example, when a sensor onlyBSS receives a probe request or a generic advertisement service (GAS)request message from an offloading station, the access point may ignorethe request to avoid more overhead. In this example, access points thatonly support sensors may have no TIM in the beacon frame.

In an example, overloading is performed, where the same bits or field ina beacon frame, or another type of message, are used based on the actualtraffic handled or by the traffic type or device type supported by theBSS. For example, a beacon frame for a BSS supporting offloading onlymay carry extended information about a hotspot, while a beacon frame fora BSS supporting sensors only may instead carry information about themaximum idle time per sensor. In another example, when the BSS iscarrying mixed traffic, the beacon frame carries only partialinformation of the hotspot. Additionally, the packets sent and receivedin a particular BSS may have a field that indicates that the traffic issensor only, offloading only, or mixed. This indicator may be in the PHYpreamble or the MAC header. Other frames that may be overloaded includethe probe request, probe response, or association request frames.

FIG. 1 illustrates system 101, which may associate stations to itsaccess point. System 101 contains basic service set (BSS) 100 andverification server 116. In FIG. 1, BSS 100 contains access point 102,and is attached to station 104, station 106, and station 108. Stations104, 106, and 108 are coupled to verification server 116. FIG. 1illustrates three stations for clarity, but more or fewer stations maybe associated with a single access point. For example, over 6000stations may be associated with BSS 100.

In one example, BSS 100 may support only sensor devices. For example,BSS 100 may support a very large number of sensors and smart meters. Onthe other hand, BSS 100 may support supports only offloading devices.Alternatively, BSS 100 supports both sensors and offloading devices. Forexample, BSS 100 may support lower performance devices, for example forhome deployment, and include a small number of sensors and a smallnumber of offloading devices. BSS 100 may only support one device type,or may support multiple device types.

BSS 100 may change the traffic type or device type it supports. Forexample, BSS 100 may switch from supporting only sensors to supportingboth sensors and offloading devices, or to only supporting offloadingdevices. In another example, BSS 100 may switch from only supportingoffloading devices to only supporting sensors, or supporting bothsensors and offloading devices. When BSS 100 changes the traffic ordevice type it supports, BSS 100 may signal stations 104, 106, and 108of the change. The signal may cause the attached stations to changetraffic type, for example from offloading to sensor traffic.Alternatively, the station may separate from BSS 100. In anotherembodiment, access point 102 may schedule that stations may send only aparticular type of traffic for a specific period of time. For example,BSS 100 may support sensor traffic only during the night, offloadingtraffic only during rush hours, and both types of traffic during therest of the day. Thus, the load may be balanced, providing a highquality of service (QoS).

FIG. 2 illustrates messaging diagram 110 with messages exchanged betweenstation 104, access point 102, and verification server 116. Initially,access point 102 broadcasts a beacon frame, which is received by station104. The beacon frame may be a normal beacon frame or a short beaconframe. The beacon frame may contain a BSS traffic type indicator whichindicates the device type or traffic type accepted by BSS 100, andtherefore of access point 102. For example, BSS 100 may associate withonly sensors, only offloading devices, or both sensors and offloadingdevices. In one example, the BSS traffic type indicator contains one bitthat indicates if BSS 100 supports sensors only or both sensors andoffloading devices. In another example, the BSS traffic type indicatorhas two bits that indicate if BSS 100 supports sensors only, offloadingdevices only, sensors and offloading devices, and a reserved bit. In anadditional example, BSS traffic type indicator contains more than twobits. Alternatively, the beacon frame's short-long sequence may have adifferent periodicity that indicates if BSS 100 supports sensors only orsensors and offloading devices. In another embodiment, the beacon frameindicates that BSS 100 supports sensors only in some channels andoffloading devices only in other channels. For example, BSS 100 maysupport sensors only in the 1 MHz and 2 MHz channels, and offloadingdevices only in the 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz channels. When station 104receives a beacon frame from access point 102 indicating that station104 is of a traffic or device type that is not supported by BSS 100,station 104 may not pursue association with access point 102. However,when station 104 receives a beacon frame from access point 102 is of atraffic type or device type that BSS 100 supports, station 104 maypursue association with access point 102. In another example, the beaconframe does not contain information on the traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100.

When station 104 pursues association further with BSS 100, station 104transmits an authentication request to verification server 116.Verification server 116 verifies the credentials of station 104. Afterverifying that station 104 is what it claims to be, verification server116 transmits an authentication response to station 104. Theauthentication response indicates whether authentication is granted tostation 104.

After authentication is granted, station 104 may optionally transmit aninformation request to access point 102. Station 104 may directlytransmit the information request to access point 102. The informationrequest may request information that station 104 will use to decidewhich of multiple access points that station 104 is in the coverage areaof to pursue association with. For example, the association request mayrequest information on the service provider or load of access point 102.Access point 102 may then respond with an information responsecontaining the information that station 104 requested.

If station 104 further pursues association with access point 102,station 104 transmits an association request to access point 102. Thetransmission of the association request may indicate to access point 102that station 104 is of a traffic or device type supported by BSS 100,and that the pursuit of association is warranted. The associationrequest may include information on the traffic or device type of station104. In response, access point 102 transmits an association response tostation 104. The association response indicates if association isgranted to station 104. Association may be granted if station 104 has atraffic type or is of a device that BSS 100 supports. However,association may not be granted if station 104 is not of a traffic typeor a device type that BSS 100 supports. If association is granted, theassociation response may include an association identification number(AID) for station 104. When association is granted, station 104 becomesattached to access point 102. Then, synchronization between access point102 and station 104 is performed. Station 104 reads the time indicationin the beacon and adjusts its own clock to follow the clock of accesspoint 102.

After association is granted, station 104 requests an internet protocol(IP) address from verification server 116. Verification server 116 thenresponds with an IP address response containing the IP address ofstation 104.

Finally, data is transferred between station 104 and access point 102.Station 104 may transmit data to access point 102, and access point 102may transmit data to station 104.

Alternatively, association may be performed by a relay station coupledbetween station 104 and access point 102.

In another example, station 104 indicates its traffic type via a directrequest or action elements.

FIG. 3 illustrates messaging diagram 120 for BSS association. Messagingdiagram 120, which is similar to messaging diagram 110, containsmessages between access point 102, station 104, and verification server116. Initially, in the active discovery case, instead of access point102 transmitting a beacon frame to station 104, station 104 transmits aprobe request to access point 102. The probe request may includeinformation on the traffic type or device type of station 104. Accesspoint 102 may respond with a probe response to station 104. In anembodiment, only the access points that carry that type of traffic ortype of devices will reply to the probe request broadcast message with aprobe response message. The probe response may include the BSS traffictype indicator. Station 104 may decide not to further pursue associationwith access point 102 if it is of a traffic type or device type notsupported by BSS 100.

In another example, if the probe request indicates that station 104 isnot of a traffic type or device type supported by BSS 100, access point102 may decide not to further pursue association with station 104. Theprobe response may indicate that access point 102 will not furtherpursue association with station 104. Alternatively, access point 102 mayindicate that it will further pursue association with station 104 bytransmitting a probe response, and indicate that it will not furtherpursue association by not transmitting a probe response.

If station 104 proceeds with association, station 104 may transmit anauthentication request to verification server 116. Verification server116 may then respond with an authentication response indicating whetherstation 104 is authenticated. If station 104 is authenticated, it maythen send an association request to access point 102. In response,access point 102 transmits an association response to station 104indicating if association is granted to station 104. Association may benot granted if station 104 is a device type that BSS 100 does notsupport. However, association may be granted if station 104 is a devicetype that BSS 100 supports. If association is granted, the associationresponse may include an AID for station 104, and station 104 becomesattached to access point 102.

After association is granted, synchronization may be performed betweenaccess point 102 and station 104. Then, station 104 requests an IPaddress from verification server 116, and verification server 116responds with an IP address response containing the IP address ofstation 104. Finally, access point 102 and station 104 exchange data.

FIG. 4 illustrates flowchart 130 for a method of associating an accesspoint with a station. Initially, in step 132, access point 102 mayreceive a probe request from station 104. The probe request may includeinformation on the traffic type or device type of station 104. Next, instep 133, access point 102 may determine if station 104 is of a traffictype or a device type supported by BSS 100. When the probe requestindicates that station 104 is not of a traffic type or a device typethat BSS 100 supports, access point 102 may ignore the probe request,and proceed to step 148, no association. Alternatively, when the proberequest indicates that station 104 is of a traffic type or device typethat BSS 100 supports, access point 102 may transmit a probe response tostation 104, indicating that access point 102 will not further pursueassociation in step 131. Then, access point 102 proceeds to step 148, noassociation.

However, when station 104 is of a traffic type or device type that BSS100 supports, or when the probe request does not contain sufficientinformation on the traffic type or device type of station 104, accesspoint 102 proceeds to step 134. Then, in step 134, access point 102transmits a probe response to station 104. The probe response mayinclude information on the traffic type or device type supported by BSS100. Also, the probe response may indicate whether station 104 is of atraffic type or device type supported by BSS 100.

Alternatively, access point 102 may not receive a probe request, and,initially, in step 134, access point 102 broadcasts a beacon frame. Thebeacon frame may contain information on the traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100.

Additionally, the probe response or beacon frame may indicate a timewindow when a particular type of traffic or type of devices is allowedto operate within BSS 100. The time window may be specified asrestrictions or as permissions. For example, access point 102 mayindicate that sensor activity is not allowed during rush hour, from 8 amuntil 11 am. When station 104 has a traffic type associated with it oris of a device type that is only allowed within particular time window,station 104 may only associate with BSS 100 during that time window.When station 104 associates with BSS 100 during the time window, whenthe time window expires, station 104 may disassociate with BSS 100.Alternatively, station 104 may remain associated, but remain inactiveuntil the window comes up again.

Next, access point 102 may optionally receive an information requestfrom station 104 in step 136. The information request may requestinformation on the service provider for access point 102 or the load ofaccess point 102. Access point 102 may then respond, in step 138, bytransmitting an information response containing the requestedinformation.

Then, access point 102 attempts to receive an association request instep 140. Access point 102 may not receive an association request instep 140, indicating that there is no association in step 148. Accesspoint 102 receives an association request in step 140, access point 102proceeds to step 141. The association request may contain information onthe traffic type or device type of station 104. Then, in step 141,access point 102 determines if association will be granted to station104. For example, association will be granted when station 104 is of atraffic type or device type supported by BSS 100, while association willnot be granted if station 104 is not of a traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100. In another embodiment association granting may beperformed differently for different channels. For example, BSS 100 maysupport sensors only in the 1 MHz and 2 MHz channels and offloadingdevices only in the 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz channels.

When association is not granted in step 141, access point 102 mayproceed to step 143, and transmit an association response indicatingthat association is not granted. Then, access point 102 proceeds to step148, and there is no association. Alternatively, when association is notgranted in step 141, access point 102 may proceed directly to step 148,association not granted.

When association is granted, access point 102 proceeds to step 142, andtransmits an association response, which indicates that association isgranted to station 104. The association response may contain an AID forstation 104. After association is granted, access point 102 synchronizeswith station 104 in step 144.

Finally, after station 104 is attached to access point 102, data istransmitted between station 104 and access point 102 in step 146. Accesspoint 102 may transmit data to station 104, and access point 102 mayreceive data from station 104.

FIG. 5 illustrates flowchart 150 for a method for BSS association.Initially, in step 152, station 104 may power on. Alternatively, station104 may enter the coverage area of access point 102.

Then, in step 154, station 104 may transmit a probe request to accesspoint 102. The probe request may include information on the traffic typeor device type of station 104. In response, station 104 may receive aprobe response from access point 102 in step 156. The probe response mayindicate whether station 104 is of a traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100. Alternatively, the probe response may contain aBSS traffic type indicator. Access point 102 may not respond to theprobe request, indicating that access point 102 will not associate withstation 104. If no probe response is received, station 104 may proceedto step 164, no association. If a probe response is received, station104 may proceed to step 158. Alternatively, station 104 does nottransmit a probe request, and, in step 156, receives a beacon frame fromaccess point 102. The beacon frame may contain a BSS traffic typeindicator. The probe response or beacon frame may indicate the traffictype or device type supported by BSS 100. Next, in step 158, station 104may determine whether its traffic type or device type is supported byBSS 100. If station 104 is not of a traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100, station 104 proceeds to step 164, and there is noassociation. However, if station 104 is of a traffic type or device typesupported by BSS 100, station 104 proceeds to step 160. In anotherembodiment, the probe response or beacon frame does not containinformation on the device type supported by BSS 100, and station 104passes through step 158 to step 160.

In step 160, station 104 transmits an authentication request toverification server 116. In response, station 104 receives anauthentication response from verification server 116 in step 162. Theauthentication response indicates whether station 104 is authenticated.Station 104 then determines if authentication has been granted in step166. If station 104 is not authenticated, station 104 proceeds to step164, and no association is achieved. However, if station 104 isauthenticated, station 104 may proceed to step 168. Alternatively, ifauthentication is granted, station 104 may proceed directly to step 174.

In step 168, station 104 transmits an information request to accesspoint 102, and to other access points that station 104 is within thecoverage area of. The information request requests information from theaccess points, such as the service provider or load. In response, instep 170, station 104 receives information responses from the accesspoints containing the information requested. Then, in step 172, station104 determines if it will pursue authentication with BSS 100. Forexample, if access point 102 has a heavy load, and another access pointhas a lower load, station 104 might decide to pursue association withthe other access point, and not access point 102. If station 104 decidesnot to pursue association with access point 102, station 104 proceeds tostep 164. However, if station 104 decides not to pursue association withaccess point 102, station 104 proceeds to step 174.

Next, in step 174, station 104 transmits an association request toaccess point 102. The association request may include information on thetraffic type or device type of station 104. In response, in step 176,station 104 receives an association response from access point 102,which contains information on whether association is granted to station104. If association is granted, the association response may contain anAID for station 104. In step 178, station 104 determines if associationis granted. If association is not granted, station 104 proceeds to step164, no association, and if association is granted, station 104 proceedsto step 180.

Then, in step 180, station 104 performs synchronization with accesspoint 102. After synchronization, station 104 requests an IP addressfrom verification server 116 in step 182, and station 104 receives an IPaddress from verification server 116 in step 184.

Finally, in step 186, station 104 and access point 102 exchange data.Station 104 may transmit data to access point 102, and station 104 mayreceive data from access point 102.

Access point 102 may change the type of traffic it handles or the typeof devices that it handles. FIG. 6 illustrates flowchart 190 showing amethod of dissociation by access point 102 when it changes the trafficor device type handled. Initially, in step 192, access point 102 changesits traffic type or device type.

Access point 102 immediately, in step 194, transmits a disassociationframe to all associated stations. The dissociation frame may be carriedon a management frame. Alternatively, the disassociation request may becarried on a beacon frame. The dissociation request may be repeatedseveral times.

Next, in step 195, access point 102 receives disassociationacknowledgement frames from the stations. After step 195, in step 196,access point 102 disassociates from all associated stations. Accesspoint 102 deletes keys held for communication with the station. Also,access point 102 releases the association identification numbers (AIDs)from the previously associated stations.

FIG. 7 illustrates flowchart 200 showing a method of dissociation bystation 104. Initially, in step 202, station 104 receives adisassociation frame from an access point. The dissociation frame may bereceived in a management frame or a beacon frame.

Station 104 transmits a disassociation acknowledgement frame. Next, instep 204, the station disassociates from the access point. Keys held bystation 104 for communicating with access point 102 are deleted.

Finally, in step 206, the station 104 searches for another BSS or accesspoint to associate with. This may be performed, for example, byperforming the method illustrated in flowchart 150.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of processing system 270 that may beused for implementing the devices and methods disclosed herein. Specificdevices may utilize all of the components shown, or only a subset of thecomponents, and levels of integration may vary from device to device.Furthermore, a device may contain multiple instances of a component,such as multiple processing units, processors, memories, transmitters,receivers, etc. The processing system may comprise a processing unitequipped with one or more input devices, such as a microphone, mouse,touchscreen, keypad, keyboard, and the like. Also, processing system 270may be equipped with one or more output devices, such as a speaker, aprinter, a display, and the like. The processing unit may includecentral processing unit (CPU) 274, memory 276, mass storage device 278,video adapter 280, and I/O interface 288 connected to a bus.

The bus may be one or more of any type of several bus architecturesincluding a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, videobus, or the like. CPU 274 may comprise any type of electronic dataprocessor. Memory 276 may comprise any type of system memory such asstatic random access memory (SRAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM),synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), read-only memory (ROM), a combination thereof,or the like. In an embodiment, the memory may include ROM for use atboot-up, and DRAM for program and data storage for use while executingprograms.

Mass storage device 278 may comprise any type of storage deviceconfigured to store data, programs, and other information and to makethe data, programs, and other information accessible via the bus. Massstorage device 278 may comprise, for example, one or more of a solidstate drive, hard disk drive, a magnetic disk drive, an optical diskdrive, or the like.

Video adaptor 280 and I/O interface 288 provide interfaces to coupleexternal input and output devices to the processing unit. Asillustrated, examples of input and output devices include the displaycoupled to the video adapter and the mouse/keyboard/printer coupled tothe I/O interface. Other devices may be coupled to the processing unit,and additional or fewer interface cards may be utilized. For example, aserial interface card (not pictured) may be used to provide a serialinterface for a printer.

The processing unit also includes one or more network interface 284,which may comprise wired links, such as an Ethernet cable or the like,and/or wireless links to access nodes or different networks. Networkinterface 284 allows the processing unit to communicate with remoteunits via the networks. For example, the network interface may providewireless communication via one or more transmitters/transmit antennasand one or more receivers/receive antennas. In an embodiment, theprocessing unit is coupled to a local-area network or a wide-areanetwork for data processing and communications with remote devices, suchas other processing units, the Internet, remote storage facilities, orthe like.

While several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure,it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might beembodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spiritor scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is notto be limited to the details given herein. For example, the variouselements or components may be combined or integrated in another systemor certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described andillustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may becombined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, ormethods without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled orcommunicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicatingthrough some interface, device, or intermediate component whetherelectrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes,substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in theart and could be made without departing from the spirit and scopedisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a station(STA) from an access point (AP), a frame comprising a device typeindicator; comparing the device type indicator with a device typeaccepted by a basic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison;determining whether to associate the STA with the AP in accordance withthe comparison; associating the STA with the AP upon determining toassociate the STA with the AP; and not associating the STA with the APupon determining not to associate the STA with the AP.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the frame is a probe response frame.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the frame is a beacon frame.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein determining whether to associate the STA with the AP comprisesdetermining to associate the STA with the AP when only sensor type STAsare allowed to associate with the AP and the STA is a sensor type STA.5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to associate theSTA with the AP comprises determining to associate the STA with the APwhen only offloading device type STAs are allowed to associate with theAP and the STA is an offloading device type STA.
 6. The method of claim1, wherein determining whether to associate the STA with the APcomprises determining to associate the STA with the AP when both sensortype STAs and offloading device type STAs are allowed to associate withthe AP and the STA is either a sensor type STA or an offloading devicetype STA.
 7. A method comprising: receiving, by an access point (AP)from a first station (STA), a first frame comprising a first device typeindicator; comparing the first device type indicator with a device typeaccepted by a basic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce a firstcomparison; determining whether to associate the first STA with the APin accordance with the first comparison; associating the first STA withthe AP upon determining to associate the first STA with the AP; and notassociating the first STA with the AP upon determining not to associatethe first STA with the AP.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein determiningwhether to associate the first STA with the AP comprises determining toassociate the first STA with the AP when only sensor type STAs areallowed to associate with the AP and the STA is a sensor type STA. 9.The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether to associate thefirst STA with the AP comprises determining to associate the first STAwith the AP when only offloading device type STAs are allowed toassociate with the AP and the STA is an offloading device type STA. 10.The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether to associate thefirst STA with the AP comprises determining to associate the first STAwith the AP when both sensor type STAs and offloading device type STAsare allowed to associate with the AP and the STA is either a sensor typeSTA or an offloading device type STA.
 11. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: receiving, by the AP from a second STA, a second framecomprising a second device type indicator; comparing the second devicetype indicator with the device type accepted by the BSS of the AP toproduce a second comparison; and indicating, by the AP to the secondSTA, whether association is pursued in accordance with the secondcomparison.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first frame comprisesan association request comprising a device traffic type indicator, andwherein the method further comprises transmitting, by the AP to thefirst STA, a probe response only when association is pursued.
 13. Astation (STA) comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium storing programming for execution by theprocessor, the programming including instructions to receive, from anaccess point (AP), a frame comprising a device type indicator, comparethe device type indicator with a device type accepted by a basic serviceset (BSS) of the AP to produce a comparison, determine whether toassociate the STA with the AP in accordance with the comparison,associate the STA with the AP upon determining to associate the STA withthe AP, and not associate the STA with the AP upon determining not toassociate the STA with the AP.
 14. The STA of claim 13, wherein theframe is a probe response frame.
 15. The STA of claim 13, wherein theframe is a beacon frame.
 16. The STA of claim 13, wherein theinstructions to determine whether to associate the STA with the APcomprise instructions to determine to associate the STA with the AP whenonly sensor type STAs are allowed to associate with the AP and the STAis a sensor type STA.
 17. The STA of claim 13, wherein the instructionsto determine whether to associate the STA with the AP compriseinstructions to determine to associate the STA with the AP when onlyoffloading device type STAs are allowed to associate with the AP and theSTA is an offloading device type STA.
 18. The STA of claim 13, whereinthe instructions to determine whether to associate the STA with the APcomprise instructions to determine to associate the STA with the AP whenboth sensor type STAs and offloading device type STAs are allowed toassociate with the AP and the STA is either a sensor type STA or anoffloading device type STA.
 19. An access point (AP) comprising: aprocessor; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storingprogramming for execution by the processor, the programming includinginstructions to receive, from a station (STA), a frame comprising adevice type indicator, compare the device type indicator with a devicetype accepted by a basic service set (BSS) of the AP to produce acomparison, determine whether to associate the STA with the AP inaccordance with the comparison, associate the STA with the AP upondetermining to associate the STA with the AP, and not associate the STAwith the AP upon determining not to associate the STA with the AP. 20.The AP of claim 19, wherein the frame comprises an association requestcomprising a second traffic type indicator, and wherein the instructionsfurther comprise instructions to transmit, to the STA, a probe responseonly when association is pursued.